Hat-brim-curling machine



2 0 L E G T... B J.

(No Model.)

HAT ERIM` GURLING MACHINE.

Pat tednec. 25, 1888.

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N. PETERS. PhnmLithogmphnr. washington. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 sheetssheen 2. J. BIGELOW.

HAT BRIMGURLING MAGHINILl No. 395,118. Patented Dee'. 25, 1888.

`llnirnn @rares larnnr @trice JOHN BIGEIXHV, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

HAT-BRliVi-CURLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,118, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed July 2, 1887. Serial No. 243,250 (No model.) I

To all whom if 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN Biciniow, a citi- Vzen of the United S ates, and aresident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, havel invented certain Improvements in Hat-Brim-Curling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of hat-bri11i-curling machines of the class shown in Kelsoys patents, Nos. 260,2 8 and 295,650, which improvements are fully described and specifically claimed hereinafter, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings, in which--` Figures 12, and 3 arc transverse sections of sufficient of a hat-brim-curling machine of the class referred to to illustrate my invention, the parts being in different positions in the three views. Fig. 4f. is alongitudinal section on the line l 2, Fig. l. Fig. is a plan view, the hat and upper curls being removed. Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse and longitudinal sections, respectively, of' the lower die; and Figs. 8V to l2, inclusive, are views showing other forms of die embodying my invention.

Referring1 to Figs. l, 2, and 3, A represents part of the table of the machine having g nides,

between which slide the heads I3 B, which carry the side pressing-flanges, c, and end pressing-flanges, o. The heads B B are connected to a double-armed lever, (j, by rods C in the same manner as in the patents above referred to. Projecting from the center of the table is a flange, d, over which fits snugly the dish I), which is of the peculiar form shown in Figs. l and l. The dish may be supported adjustably as regards height by a set-screw, d', acting either directly or through the medium of a spring, d, so as to render the effect of the closing of the pressing-flanges over the top of the curls similar to that of ironing on the felt of the hat-brim.

As shown in Figs. l and 4, the dish D contains a bag, E, of the peculiar form shown in Fig. 6, this bag conforming to the general shape of' the hat-brim-that is to say, it is oval in outline, tapered or outwardly-beveled at each end to accord with the dip of the front and rear portions of the brim, and having a concave or inwardly-beveled upper surface at each side where it acts upon the roll of the brim. The bag has au inlet-pipe, e, which can be placed in communication with a pump or reservoir containing fluid under pressure, the pipe being provided with a suitable stopcock, e, for cutting' off' the supply of fiuid when the bag is filled.

I is the hat-block, secured to the dish I) by a suitable set-screw or clamp, ,that will hold it in place against upward pressure and yet permit 'it to be readily detached when a hat of a different size has to be acted upon.

J .I are the curls or f'ormers, over which the hat-brim is molded and curled, as shown in Fig. 3. These curls may be loose or may be attached to suitable arms, as shown in the Kelsey patents above referred to.

In the drawings, I have shown detached curls and presser-arms K K, having adjustable plates k, which are provided with adjustable pressing-pins 7s for bearing upon the curls. I make no special claim upon this feature of construction in the present application, however, as it forms part of a prior application, Serial No. 228,729, nled by me on the 24th day of February, 1887.

The front and back pressing-flanges, o, are secured to the side pressing-flanges, c, by bolts c2, which pass through inclined slots in the sliding flanges c, whereby the closing of the side pressing-flanges, c, will also, owing to the inclined slots and the bolts c2, effect the closing of the front and back slides, as in t-he former Kelsey machine.

then a certain sized hat is to be curled and set, I first clamp together the proper curls, J J, and then place them in the correct position upon the bag E. rFhe pressing-flanges are then moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, and water, air, or other iiuid is admitted to the bag E until the latter is illed,'as shown in Fig. 3, and conforms to the shape of the under side of the curls J, the supply of fluid being then cut off, the flanges retracted, and the curls released. A hat having its brim portion softened and rendered flexible by heat or otherwise is then placed over the block I and the curls .I placed in position on the brim, as shown in Fig. 2, and subjected to pressure. As all escape of fluid from the bag E is cut oft', said bag must necessarily conform tothe shape of the under surfaces of the curls and present a solid backing for the brim of the hat. The pressing-flanges c c are then forced partly over the curls by the operation of the lever C, so as to draw the brim closely against the curls, and the depressors K are then raised and the inward movement ot' the curlinganges completed, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to ilatten and press the curled edges of the brim.

lt will be noticed that the under side of the brim, which constitutes the roll of the hat, is formed by the pressure of the fluid-bag, this pressure being exerted first at the inner portion ofthe roll next the crown and then gradually extending to the outer portion ot' the roll, so as to press the edges of the brim up into the path of the side nessing-flan ges, c, by the inward movement ot' which the curling of the brim is effected, so that a smoothlyniinished roll and a very sharp and even curl of the brim are insured.

Not only is the action ot' the [luid-bag or flexible 'under die more effective than that of the usual solid die, but said Aflexible under die is capable of use :for every sized hat which has to be made, thus dispensin with the use of a separate under die or dish for each size of hat. The upper' shell of the die is pret'- erably thickened at and near the inner portion, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, so that it will possess a greater degree of :flexibility at the outer portion of the roll of the brim than at the inner portion ot' the same, the necessary movement of the die being' greatest at said outer portion.

It is not necessary in carrying out my invention that the die should be made in the form of a bag detachable from the dish of the machine, as said dish itself may form a Huid-receptacle and be provided with a flexible covering, afs shown, Vfor instance, in ligs. S and 9.

The die maybe solid at the ends, if desired,

as shown. in Fig. lO, these portions of hatbrims being generally of uniform dip, which is unaffected by the different shapes o t' the curled portions ot' the brim; hence in many cases a lower die havingits side portions only :flexible will answer the purpose.

My invention may also be carried out without the use of a fluid-lilled die, as l may use a solid die, of rubber or other material, possessing such elasticity that it will conform tothe shape of the upper curls when the hat-brim is pressed down by the same upon the lower die. (See Figs. 1l and l2.)

It will be seen that although the trouble and expense of providing a number of lower dies, one for each shape of hat-brim, is overcome by my invention the die is as convenient as a solid die and does not necessitate any change vin the workin g parts of the machine.

It should be understood that the terms lower and cupper, as used in this speciiication, do not necessarily apply to the location of the dies in the machine, but simply designate the portions of the brim upon which the dies act, as it is evident that my invention will not be affected by a change in the location of the parts in the machine so long as they preserve their proper relative position.

l am aware that it has often been proposed to use and that numerous patents have been. granted which illustrate and describe the use of ilexible pressers in hat-pressing machines, the presser being sometimes solid and elastic, sometimes in the form of boxes -which are provided with rubber or like llexible diaphragms Yfor acti n g on the hat, and which receive water or other tluid from a pump or reservoir under pressure to distend the diaphragms, and sometimes in the vform ot' boxes having rubber diaphragms and containing a coniined volume ot air or water or a granular mass which will conform to the desired shape', the elastic or fiexible bag-pressers having been proposed both for pressing hat crowns and brims. The usual flexible bag-presser, however, when employed for Yforming," the brim of the hat, has a diaphragm much larger than said brim, and this diaphragm is caused by the pressure to overlap the edges of the upper dies, and thus form not only the roll but the curl of the brim as well.

I lind that it is much preferable to use a flexible die of limited size, the upper surface of which, before the pressing operation, conforms to the general shape of the brim with its dip and roll, and during the pressing operation acts only upon the under side of the brim, so as to press the same against the adjacent faees of theupper curls, reliance being placed upon the pressing-flanges t0 cause the inward bending or curling of the edge of the brim, as a m'uch more effective means for t-he purpose than would be afforded by a flexible presser.

lVithout claiming, broadly, therefore, all exible presser .for the hat-brim, or a presser containing a confined volume ot' 'fluid7 I claim as my inventimi and desire to secure byLctters Patentl.. The within-describml die for a hat-brimw curling machine7 said die havin an upper surface conforming to the general shape of the brim with its dip and roll, and constructed to act upon the under sido of the brim only, that portion of the die which acts upon the roll. ol the brim being flexible, all substantiall y as specified.

2. The within-d escribed die for a hat-brimcurling machine, said die having an upper surface llexible throughout and conforming to the general shape ot the brim with its dip and roll, said upper surface being such as to act upon the under side of the brim only in. pressing, all substantially as specified.

3. The within-described. die fora hat-brimcurling machine, said die having an upper surface conforming to the general shape of the brim with its dip and roll, the roll portions ot' the die bein hollow and. vfilled with fluid, all substantially as speci fied.

IOO

IIO

l. The within-described die for abat-brimcurlingl niachine, said die consistingI oil a casing, hollow and `fluid-filled throughout, and havin g' a flexible upper surface which conforms to the `general shape of the brim of the hat, all substantially as specified.

5. The within-described die for ahat-brimcurlingl machine, said die constituting a unitary and self-contained structure independent of and detachable from the machine, and having a flexible upper surface conforming' to the `general shape of the brim oit' the hat, all substantially as specified.

6. The within-described die for a hat-brimcurling machine, said die consisting of a .ilexible Huid-filled casing, constitutinga unitary and self-contained structure independent of and detachable from the machine, all substantially as specified.

7. The within-described die for a hat-brimenrling machine, said die conforming to the `een eral shape oit' the hat-brim, having` a central opening' llor receiving` a proj ecting portion of the dish of the machine, and possessing such iexibility that it will adapt itself to the shape of the curls when subjected to pressure, all substantially as specified.

8. The within-deseribed die :fora hat-brimcurling` machine, said die consisting ot a iexible fluid-filled casing, that portion of the latter which acts upon the hat varying in thickness, so as to Vary in flexibility in different parts, all substantially as speciiied.

9. The combination, in a hat-briiii-curling` machine, of a dish having' a recessed face, with a lower die adapted to said recessed face ol' the dish, and possessing such ,''lexibility that it will adapt itself to the shape ot the curls when subjected lo the pressure ot the same, all substantially as specified.

10. The combination, in a hat-brim-curling' machine, of the upper curls, the side pressing- 'lianges, and a lower :flexible die for actingl upon the brim of thc hat, all substantially as specified.

1l. The combination, in a llat-brim-curling machine, of the upper curls, the side and end pressing-lianges, and the lower flexible die for acting upon the brim ol? the hat, all sul stantially as speciiied.

l2. The withindescribed bottom board or lower die for a hat-brini-curling machine, said die having a flexible portion for actin upon the under side ot' the brim, anda central rigid portion, all substantiafllyv as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed in v name to this specification in the presence ol two subscribingI \\itnesses.

.lOlI N 'lGllLO'W. Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. (loNNnn, HARRY SMITH. 

